Hey there editors,
I have been working through updating my own personal editing checklist and was musing on how I got this list in the first place.
Somewhat painfully, it was by missing something, and then adding that thing to the list so I wouldn't miss it again. Some of them kind of surprised me when they happened. There were definitely d'oh-face palm moments, but some others were sneaky.
Here's 5 things I have checked in my work over the last year that continue to show up regularly in patterns:
1. The materials list doesn't include all the notions or even details on the notions.
There might be instructions to make buttonholes but no buttons or button sizes listed in the materials. The maker may need a third needle for a bind off, but only two are mentioned in the needle list. The instructions are structured around different colored stitch markers, but nothing is mentioned in the intro about how many markers the maker will need, what kind of marker, or how many of the different colors.
2. When working in pieces, the lengths that are seamed together are not the same length or cannot be eased in if different.
Pieced sweaters are kind of fun to check, because all the instructions are consolidated into one thing at a time. It's great when all the parts are well written and all the numbers check out, but will they actually fit together? I ran into an issue in one pattern where the front and back shoulders were two very different lengths. This can easily happen if the designer is focused on getting stitch patterns to line up and work across sizes, but misses that the parts won't match.
3. Speaking of stitch patterns, when working more than one chart (especially in knitting patterns), line 1 of the next chart needs to follow exactly the last line of previous chart.
I am so guilty of missing this one in a pattern or two. It's another "need to step back and look at interconnected parts" moment. I can focus on one chart seemingly error-free and working well, but actually the whole thing is off because it doesn't follow the previous stitch count or patterning.
4. Yarn is discontinued.
Sometimes a designer will choose a yarn for a design long before the publication timeline is set. Or they may decide to use that special yarn they have been saving for awhile in the design it finally wants to become. And whoops the yarn company isn't producing it anymore. This can be really tricky because the sample may already be made and photographed, and the pattern is written on this particular yarn's gauge. When I check yarn in a pattern, I always check the manufacturer's website (not Ravelry) for the details and determine if makers can actually purchase the yarn listed. If not, I'll notify the designer if it is discontinued. My favorite reference to send them to for problem solving is yarnsub.com.
5. Abbreviations are not used consistently.
Yes, the designer uses the same abbreviations for the same stitch, but they abbreviate inconsistently. It's great to get the designer's clear preference on when to abbreviate. Do they abbreviate in all the introductory paragraphs and section headers? Or do abbreviations only show up in line instructions? This kind of inconsistency feels like a hiccup when you read it, and I like to use my software to highlight all that particular abbreviation to see where and when it is used.
Getting better as an editor often is a stumble through making mistakes, but what an incredible opportunity to stop, reflect, and add them to the list for next time.
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What things have you added to your checklist recently?
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Thanks for being here and reading! I appreciate you. Feel free to hit reply if anything here prompts the need for a conversation.
Testing how fast I can cable without a cable needle (because I don't know where mine is),
Sarah
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I am a knitting technical editor, author, and sweater nerd. I like coffee, puzzles, many books (all at once), and a good sniff of yarn fumes. This Hub is all about helping *you* find success as a technical editor from any direction that works.
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